A 1930s house in the Rugby-Venable neighborhood has recently been granted Virginia historic status—but to its owner, it’s worth preserving as part of his own family’s history. The wood-frame and stone house, built in the Dutch Colonial Revival style, was designed by noted local architect Milton L. Grigg. A Virginia native, Grigg attended UVA but left […]
Ask ChatGPT to design you a dream room—bed, bath, utility, rumpus, you name it—and the popular bot will likely have a few questions. What are the dimensions? What style are you looking for? What are some main features and must-have details? Answer those questions, and the moment of truth arrives. “Do you want me to […]
While spring, summer, and fall are the most popular seasons for Charlottesville nuptials, winter weddings can be especially romantic. But scheduling your celebration for the time between Thanksgiving and Easter requires planning around several facts of life. First and foremost is weather, and in central Virginia, that can be tricky. Any particular winter day can […]
“I had come to Rock Paper Scissors many times—I always loved this shop, it was warm and welcoming, and it always had things I loved,” says Karen Ward. That was during the six years Ward worked in a stationery store in Alexandria. But as of January this year, she and her husband Jonathan are new Charlottesville […]
Kelly Chambers explains her calling simply: “I have a heart to play for people,” she says—and isn’t that the kind of person you would want making music at your wedding? Weddings of course are the most special of special days, but Chambers also plays for graduations, parties, church services, and celebrations from birthdays to Father’s […]
Your wedding day is full of details at eye level, but some of the most magical touches float above it all. From glowing lights to airy florals and whimsical balloons, overhead decor can transform a space, adding depth, movement, and unexpected moments that make guests stop and stare. Here are three examples we love. Lush […]
One of the beauties of wedding celebrations is that they can be a true expression of the two of you. And whether that expression is traditional or modern, formal or casual, large or micro, two hours or an entire weekend … well, it’s your wedding! The Charlottesville area has a wealth of wonderful wedding spots, […]
We all fantasize about strolling through Zillow to find our dream home. But for one family, the fantasy became reality. “At the time, we were living in the Norfolk area,” recalls the client. “I’d gone to UVA, and always knew I wanted to retire to this area.” The clients’ children were still in school, and […]
It’s called the Sugar Shack, but don’t get the wrong idea. The accessory dwelling unit in the Fifeville neighborhood, designed by Oak Five Architecture, is named for the dandelion wine once made there. “It was a place where lots of stuff happened,” Oak Five principal Kate Snider Tabony says. “[The former homeowners] sold the dandelion […]
It’s not easy being a landscape architect. Thomas Woltz, senior principal with Nelson Byrd Woltz, calls this time “an identity crisis” for the profession. When he tells people he’s a landscape architect, Woltz says, “they ask me what to plant in their backyard.” So now he tells them he designs public spaces, a succinct description […]